I OH YOU are excited to share Jack River’s new single ‘Real Life’, a driving, sun drenched track that marks the dawn of a new era for the Yuin-based artist. Today’s new music is accompanied by a video directed by award-winning filmmaker W.A.M. Bleakley (DMA’S, Brian Jonestown Massacre) and the announcement of special headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney next month.
Endless summer skies, dancing with friends in the sea, taking long distance lovers outside for the first time. These are the things Jack River (aka Holly Rankin) futilely dreamed about when it felt like the world was spinning out of control.
“’Real Life’ is the 90’s-esque dream land I needed to take a trip to, in the depths of never-ending lockdowns. Amidst the gloom, I wanted to feel a peculiar and perfect summer, even if just for 3 minutes.”
– Jack River
‘Real Life’ transports you to a strange paradise, an intoxicating hallucination of an ideal summer. It’s a kaleidoscopic blend of echo-chamber pop vocals, frenzied trumpets, and psychedelic distortion that retreats from reality – where the grass isn’t always greener.
Drawing inspiration from a bygone decade of carefree illusion, ‘Real Life’ nods to 90s acts Primal Scream and LEN, and the energy of Hot Chocolate’s ‘You Sexy Thing’. Written and co-produced with long-time collaborator Xavier Dunn, with further co-production from Lewis Stephenson, the only goal was to make the listener feel good and depart the unsettling present.
The video is an explosion of caustic summer symbolism. “It’s always fun shooting a summer themed clip during a La Niña ‘weather event’,” says director W.A.M. Bleakley. “The rain was intense but we put up some big lights and added an artificial glow to everything which ended up working in our favour as it gave the whole piece a surreal old school look. Holly is an absolute legend and it was amazing shooting in her home town on the South Coast of NSW.”
With over 66 million streams and multiple Platinum and Gold singles, Jack River is a force to be reckoned with. Her debut album Sugar Mountain earned 3 x ARIA Award nominations, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Best Pop Release and Engineer of the Year; an AIR nomination for Best Independent Pop Album; and saw Holly Rankin nominated for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year at the APRA Awards.
Jack River has not only proved herself as a powerhouse musician in recent years, but as a voice for change. She spearheaded the ‘Our Soundtrack Our Stories’ initiative alongside ARIA championing homegrown music; hosted the ‘Visions Of Us’ event in conjunction with the Sydney Opera House to unite voices of climate activism, First Nations leaders, and young artists; and is a passionate advocate for human rights.
Next month, Jack River will be returning to the stage, with two very special headline shows at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on Thursday 18 August and Sydney’s Oxford Art’s Factory on Friday 19 August. Tickets are on sale now.
JACK RIVER
LIVE DATES
Thu 18 Aug – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
w/ D’Arcy Spiller
northcotesocialclub.com/
Fri 19 Aug – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW
w/ D’Arcy Spiller & Micra
moshtix.com.au/
Photo Credit: Laura Smith
